Antenna



Oct. 25, 1932. c. J. PAGEL ET AL ANTENNA Filed July 21. 1931 Clm enoe J.Puget d Benjamin hkutick CLARENCE J. PAGEL AND BENJAMIN L. KULICK, OFBUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIG-NORS TO I Patented Oct. 25, 19321 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE" HENRY G. BARTSCH, OF.WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA ANTENNA 1 This invention relates to installations for radio receiving setsand it has particular relation to an antenna for radio receiving setsmounted in motor vehicles.

Heretofore, it has been customary to install an antenna in a roof of amotor vehicle body to accommodate a radio receiving set, and others havebeen installed along the running board and frame of the vehicle. Whilethese forms of antenna are more or less eificient they involveconsiderable expense in modifying the vehicle roof and other vehicleportions, and if the radio is installed after the vehicle has been-soldto the consumer, it is necessary to remove elements of the vehicleconstruction which were not intended to be disturbed after themanufacture thereof.

Accordingly, in addition to being consider-- ably expensive, theseformsof radio antenna installation involve the removal and replacing ofelements of the vehicle which are likely to be injured during theinstallation.

Moreover, in these forms of antenna and radio installation in motorvehicles, it is necessary to provide dampening devices for the ignitionsystem in order to avoid so-called 1nterference to proper radioreception. Since the frame of the motor vehicle serves as a ground forthe antenna,- considerable care must be exercised in order to insureproper insulation therefrom. It is, of course, desirable that theantenna be as long as possible in the restricted area occupied by thevehicle, and accordingly it is customary to arrange the antennalengthwise ofthe vehicle. In addition to the disadvantages of removingportions of the vehicle top to provide suitable installation for theantenna therein the latter is also subject to interference from hightension wires, telegraph wires, and the like, that are generallydisposed parallel to highways. This interference is caused by themagnetic lines of force of the antenna intersecting the magnetic linesof force of i the Wires.

According to this invention it is proposed to avoid or minimize all ofthe disadvantages of the antenna referred to above by installing a loopor coil form of antenna as a part of a tire cover for a spare tire.Since the tire cover is customarily composed of, or can be composedof,.insulating material the problem of insulating the antenna is not aserious one. As a matter of fact, the tire itself which comprises rubbercompound provides a very eflicient and adequate insulation for theantenna. An antenna of this kind is arranged circumferentially of thecover and is provided with detachable connections to a radio receivingset installed in the vehicle, and it is so far removed from the ignitionsystem as to be practically immune from interference from any of theelectrical or metallic parts of the motor vehicle as the radio isoperated, Also, the loop or coils of the antenna are arranged in a planesubstantially transversely of the direction of travel of the motorvehicle, and accordingly'the lines of force do not materially affect themagnetic lines of force of the wires running parallel to the highway.The invention therefore comprehends a combined tire cover andradioantenna adaptable for use upon various types and sizes of motorvehicles and the invention can be applied without disturbing any of theexisting elements of various types of motor vehicles.

For a better understanding of the invention reference may now be hadto'the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, ofwhich Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view of a motor vehicle having a tirecover mounted upon a spare tire and having the invention includedtherein;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective of a combined tire cover andantenna;

Fig. 3 is a cross section taken substantially along the line IIIIII ofFig. 1; and. i

Fig. 4; is a perspective of a conductor for attaching the antenna to aconductor of a motor vehicle radio.

Referring particularly to 1 a suitable spare tire support 10 is shownconnected to vided withan inner flap 18 that has an arcuate member 19mounted thereon and adapted to spring over the tire to hold the cover inits proper position thereon. An outer circumferential section 20 of thecover is secured by means of a seam 22 to the flap l8 and a bead 23 ofstiffening material is disposed in the seam to assist in maintaining theproper contour of the cover.

The edge portion of the section 20 opposite the seam 22 is folded twice,as indicated at at and 25, in opposite directions and sewed, and astifiening member 27 is disposed in the loop of the folded edge portion.This stiffening material also assists in maintaining the proper shape ofthe cover. A relatively narrow strip 30 of suitable material such asleather, rubberized fabric, or the like, is provided with acircumferential annular recess 82 and forms a sheath for receiving anumber of coils of insulated wire 33 that serve as an antenna for theradio receiving set (not shown) mounted in the vehicle. An outerdisc-like or annular wall 3 L composed of ma terial similar to thematerial constituting the section 20 is secured by means of a. seam 35to the strip 30 on the section 20. This seam also extends through thestrip 30.

It has been found satisfactory to arrange the antenna upon the outercorner or outer thread portion of the tire in order to facilitate themounting of the cover upon the tire. Not only does the antenna serve itsfunctions in conjunction with the radio receiving set, but it alsoprovides a reinforcing elementfor the tire cover. An insulated conductor36', composed of material, such as metallic tape or wire, is secured, asindicated at 37, to one end of the antenna wire 33 and is adapted toextend about the inner surface of the cover and transversely over hetire. Suitable fastening devices 38 are provided for securing theconductor 36' to a conductor 40 leading to the radio in the motorvehicle. The sheath strip 30 in which the antenna wires are confinedrequires only a very small. space and accordingly it does not interferewith the appearance of the tire cover. Moreover, it does not interferein any way with the mounting of the cover upon the tire.

It is to be understood that the antenna can be arranged in otherlocations in the tire cover than that shown, and that the location illustrated has been found to be satisfactory and advantageous for ordinarypurposes of the invention. However, in this arrangement, the antenna islocated at the most remote and desirable portion of the motor vehiclewith respect to the engine and ignition system. Thus a maximumefficiency of the radio receiving set is insured and it is notmaterially interfered with by the metal frame parts of the car or by theelectrical elements utilized in conjunction with the ignition systemthat are ordinarily arranged in the front portion of the motor vehicle.It is apparent that the carcass of the spare tire itself serves as anefiicient insulator and support for the antenna, and since its axisextend lengthwise of the motor vehicle it provides a most favorablelocation for the antenna with respect to the telegraph and power wiresthat are disposed along the highways.

Although only one form of the invention has been shown and described indetail it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that theinvention is not so limited but that various changes may be made thereinwithout departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope ofthe appended claim.

What is claimed is:

An antenna unit for use with automobile radio equipment comprising aband-like member of flexible material of substantially the same diameteras that of the spare tire casing of an automobile, and adapted to besnugly and concentrically detachably mounted upon the tread portion ofsaid tire casing, a circular member of flexible material disposed withinthe confines of said band-like member having its peripheral edge securedto the outboard edge of said band-like member and adapted to overlie andcover the outboard side wall of the tire casing, a tubular member of ring form havingsubstantially the same diameter as said circular member andexternally secured to said band-like member and said circular member attheir common edge, a loop antenna element disposed within and completelyencased by said tubular member, and a lead-in connection transverselydisposed within, protected and concealed by said band-like member, oneend of which leadin connection passes through said tubular member and iselectrically connected to said loopantenna element, the other end ofwhich is adapted for connection to radio equipment carried by saidautomobile.

CLARENCE J. PAGEL.

BENJAMIN L. KULICK.

